Fashion News: Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen win CFDA Award

The leap from child actresses to fashion designers has paid off in many ways for Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, and Monday night they were recognized with the coveted womenswear designer of the year award at the Council of Fashion Designers of America Awards. It was the first time the 25-year-old sisters have been nominated, and they had fierce competition: Marc Jacobs, Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez of Proenza Schouler were the other nominees. Other winners were Billy Reid for menswear and Reed Krakoff for accessories. Winners of Swarovski Awards for Emerging Talent were Joseph Altuzarra, Phillip Lim and Tabitha Simmons; lifetime achievement went to Tommy Hilfiger. [Styleite]

Mary-Kate Olsen surprised everyone by showing off newly dark locks at the event. [People]

Baby, she's a rock star. England's Queen Elizabeth II took to the stage at the end of her Diamond Jubilee concert Monday night at Buckingham Palace, wearing a shimmery gold dress, pearls and her characteristic handbag but surprisingly no tiara or hat. She joined her equally flashy knights, Sir Paul McCartney and Sir Elton John, both looking a little sparkly themselves. [Telegraph]

New York Knicks captain Amare Stoudemire proposed to his longtime girlfriend Alexis Welch in Paris on Saturday — reportedly with a $1-million engagement ring that features an 8.5-carat diamond. [People]

Glenn Beck went on a 10-minute radio rant against Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour and her support for President Obama. She is the devil and there was a movie about it, he said, referring to "The Devil Wears Prada." [Styleite]

The Italian press has been speculating that Giorgio Armani intends to turn his company over to a foundation, but a spokesman says there is no such plan. [WWD]

French designer Sophie Theallet is partnering with the Limited to be its "exclusive guest designer," with a capsule collection planned to debut for the holiday season. [WWD] (Subscription required.)

Valentino Garavani is designing costumes for three performances that will be part of the New York City Ballet's Fall Gala in September. [Styleite]

Joanna Sykes, design director of Aquascutum since May 2010, is leaving at the end of the month in a "mutual decision," the brand's new chief executive says. [WWD]

RELATED:

PHOTOS: Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee

Fashion News: Miss U.S.A. 2012 crowned in Las Vegas, Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee

Plus-sized blogger poses in "fatkini"

 

— Susan Denley

Photos: From top, Mary-Kate Olsen, left, and Ashley Olsen receive womenswear designer of the year award on stage at the 2012 CFDA Fashion Awards at Alice Tully Hall on Monday in New York City. Credit: Theo Wargo / Getty Images

Royals take to the stage at the end of the Diamond Jubilee concert Monday at Buckingham Palace in London. Queen Elizabeth II, in gold, is shown with daughter-in-law the Duchess of Cornwall, Sir Paul McCartney in blue, son Prince Charles at the microphone and Sir Elton John in pink. Credit: David Parker / WPA Pool / Getty Images

New York Fashion Week Fall 2012 Review: Marc Jacobs

Victoriana meets late-night rave. That was the mood of the Marc Jacobs fall 2012 runway show, a madcap fashion romp with a charming, childhood innocence, and a white enchanted forest set created by Rachel Feinstein. 

With Lionel Bart's soaring lyrics, "Who will buy this wonderful feeling? I'm so high, I swear I could fly!" from the musical "Oliver!" on the soundtrack, one couldn't help but imagine the models as chic street urchins and flower sellers, nannies and grannies, in outsized hats, color-saturated tinsel tweed frock coats and skirts, crocheted sweaters, argyle socks and pilgrim shoes with enormous rhinestone buckles.

The madcap combinations, clashing colors and prints, also called to mind the surging blogger class of fashion fan boys and girls, the Tavi Gevinson, Susie Bubble and Bryan Boys of the world, and their wide-eyed Hollywood compatriots, like Dakota Fanning, who was sitting front row. For that generation, fashion isn't so much about money and status as it is about personal peacockery, the louder the better.

There was nothing jaded here, just pure, unabashed fashion fun -- as if Jacobs was trying to remind us all of why we got into this business, because we love dressing up.

RELATED:

NYFW Spring 2012: Marc Jacobs

NYFW Fall 2012: Marlon Gobel rounds up the unusual suspects

NYFW Fall 2011: Marc Jacobs gives new meaning to cheap chic

-- Booth Moore in New York

Photos: Looks from the Marc Jacobs fall and winter 2012 runway show Monday in New York. Credit: Peter Michael Dills / Getty Images

Fashion News: Beyonce baby Blue Ivy born

Beyonce and Jay-Z welcomed new baby Blue Ivy on Saturday night, and some folks are figuring that Beyonce will be back in good enough shape to perform at the Grammys (she is nominated for two) Feb 12. [Huffington Post]

Dear me. British TV drama "Downton Abbey" seems to be using used costumes. Or maybe we should say reycled costumes. For instance, a costume worn by Michelle Dockery (Lady Mary) in one scene was previously worn by Emma Thompson in the 1992 film "Howard's End." [Telegraph]

The duchess of Cambridge wore a floor-length lacy black gown to the London premiere of "War Horse" over the weekend. The most notable accessory was a plastic umbrella wielded by her husband to keep his lady dry in the damp weather. [Cut]

Marc Jacobs and Louis Vuitton will be the subjects of an exhibition opening in March at the Musée des Arts Decoratifs at the Louvre in Paris. The exhibit is to cover two floors of the museum, one dedicated to Vuitton, one to Jacobs, who is in creative director of the atelier Vuitton established. [Telegraph]

Lady Gaga has been writing a column for V magazine, but in the latest issue she turned over her space for notes in which designers including Giorgio Armani and Karl Lagerfeld talk about her style. [Cut]

Nicole Richie confesses that she doesn't know how to put on makeup. Why should she? She's one of the lucky ones who can have someone else do it whenever necessary. [InStyle]

Nicki Minaj reportedly is in talks with Vogue for a cover. [Fashionista]

RELATED:

PHOTOS: Nicki Minaj's year in style

La La Anthony launches makeup line

Majoring in chic at L.A.'s fashion schools

Photos, from top: Jay-Z and Beyonce, shown at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in September, welcomed baby Blue Ivy on Saturday; the duke and duchess of Cambridge at the "War Horse" London premiere. Credits: Al Bello / Getty Images; Ian Gavan / AFP/Getty Images

 

Fashion News: Chelsea Handler, Jennifer Lopez win Glamour awards

Designers Donatella Versace and Marc Jacobs were among the presenters and Tory Burch among the recipients at Glamour magazine's annual awards presentation Monday night. Other honorees included Chelsea Handler (shown here with presenter Jennifer Aniston), Jennifer Lopez, Gloria Steinem, Lea Michele, Cindy Sherman and three generations of Bush women: Barbara, Laura and Jenna (now Jenna Bush Hager). [USA Today] 

Dakota Fanning's advertisement for Marc Jacobs' Oh, Lola! fragrance has been banned in the UK. The ad shows Fanning looking younger than her 17 years wearing a sweet, dotted-swiss dress, semi-reclined with a large bottle of perfume in her lap ... kind of between her legs. She looked too young and too provocative for the British Advertising Standards Authority, which had received several complaints about the ad.[Telegraph]

Makeup maven Bobbi Brown celebrated her two decades in the beauty industry at a soiree at the U.S. ambassador to France’s residence in Paris on Tuesday night. [WWD]

For the first time, Macy's plans to open at midnight on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, the retailer announced recently. It joins lots of big-box and electronics stores in getting the holiday shopping season started earlier and earlier. [Huffington Post]

Now comes word that nearly 1,000 Gap Inc. stores, including Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Athleta locations and Gap Inc. outlets, plan to be open on Thanksgiving Day itself this year, really getting the jump on holiday competition. [The Cut]

I may be the only person on the planet who abhors this trend. I'd prefer for my family to relax together, not be thinking about heading to the mall to buy things on the most stressful shopping day of the year. What do you think?

RELATED:

Sunglass Hut Artist Series features guerrilla knitter

Frugal Fashion: "Breaking Dawn's" Kristen Stewart in a mini

Fashion News: Vanessa Williams fights chilly L.A. weather in style

-- Susan Denley

Photo: At the Glamour Women of the Year awards, winner Chelsea Handler, left, with presenter Jennifer Aniston. Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images for Glamour Magazine

Fashion News: 'Twilight' stars wear the right shoes for Grauman's ceremony

The "Twilight Trio" -- that would be Kristen Stewart Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner -- got their foot and hand prints immortalized in cement in a ceremony Thursday at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. Stewart wore Brian Atwood high-heeled pumps for the red carpet, but -- prudent lady -- she slipped into checkered Vans for the footprint. The guys seemed to have the right shoes from the get-go. [Los Angeles Times]

U.S News & World Report took a look at 20 top diets to determine which is the healthiest, and coming out No. 1 was the DASH diet. More formally, the eating program is called Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, and it earned points for being nutritionally sound and including lots of produce. But it was only No. 8 on the list as far as weight loss. In that category, Weight Watchers placed first. [U.S. News & World Report]  

It's tough being a Victoria's Secret angel. Wearing that jeweled underwear can be a pain -- literally -- as former angel Selita Ebanks revealed a few months back. And as far as a personal life goes ... well, the most beautiful women in the world find it hard to date. So says Candice Swanepoel: "When people meet you it's hard to look past our job, what we look like. They are always trying to impress you, you know, like 'come to my mansion blah blah blah.'"  Yeah, sounds like a problem. [StyleList]

Meanwhile, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley says she's not walking in this year's Victoria's Secret Fashion Show (which films Wednesday  and is scheduled to air on CBS on Nov. 29). Too busy working on other things to be an angel this year. [InStyle]

I was laughing so hard at Thursday's episode of "South Park" -- which poked fun at targets including Occupy Wall Street,  the tea party, class warfare, racial divisions and more -- that I didn't realize that Cartman's "Muscle Man Marc" doll was modeled on designer Marc Jacobs. Right down to the Clyde the Frog tattoo. Thanks to The Cut for pointing this out!  

Designer Geren Ford has opened new headquarters, the Annex, in Hollywood, including her first-ever retail space. It's open by appointment only, and one can be made by email. The space is warehouse-y, workshop-y and should be fun. [PopSugar LA]

Former British Vogue creative director Robin Derrick has been hired to assist Harper's Bazaar make itself over. The results are to be revealed in the March 2012 issue. [WWD]

Designer Tom Ford made a personal appearance at Bergdorf Goodman's in NYC to promote his new makeup line, and reportedly sold $52,000 of the stuff to eager customers. [WWD] (Subscription required)

RELATED:

Photos: 'Twilight' stars leave imprints outside Grauman's

Victoria's Secret model says 'ouch' to diamonds

Vionnet comes to Hollywood

-- Susan Denley

Photo: Kristen Stewart is flanked by Robert Pattinson, left, and Taylor Lautner as the "Twilight" stars  are honored Thursday at Grauman's Chinese Theatre. Credit: Valerie Macon / AFP/Getty Images

Fashion News: Will Apple's new iPhone be the next 'It' thing? [Updated]

Forget about dressing up your outfit with the season's new "It" bag, earrings or scarf. I'm wondering if Apple's new iPhone 4S, unveiled Tuesday, will prove to be the season's hottest accessory? [Los Angeles Times]

Like many of the spring-summer 2012 women's collections being shown in Paris over the past week, Alexander McQueen's presentation Tuesday night was sweet and ladylike (despite the edgy masks covering the models' faces), as seen below. "It's all about femininity and womanhood," said creative director Sarah Burton (famous for, among other things, designing the breathtaking gown Kate Middleton wore when she married Prince William in April). The clothes were in soft, pearlescent colors and shaped to show off a woman's body, fitted in the bodice, nipped in at the waist.  [WWD]  

 
The collection Marc Jacobs put on the runway for Louis Vuitton, below, was almost sugary sweet, with lace collars, vanilla tulle, sweet skirt suits and princess dresses -- "a heavenly constellation of prettiness," said the Telegraph's Lisa Armstrong. [Telegraph] 

Back to Alexander McQueen for a minute. The Kate Middleton wedding gown mentioned above drew a record number of visitors to Buckingham Palace when it was displayed from late July to Oct. 3: 600,000 people, topping the unofficial record of 420,000, set in 1994. [People]

"Project Runway All-Stars" has lined up some notable guest judges for the season that starts Nov. 3: model Miranda Kerr, hip-hop star Pharrell Williams and -- my personal favorite -- Miss Piggy. [The Cut]

Chico's signed up its first celebrity endorser, Diane Keaton, who will be featured in the brand's holiday campaign. [WWD] 

Giorgio Armani is slated to launch a website on Thursday, and it's intended to be a global flagship. The site will contain five of Armani's brands and will operate in the United States, Japan and 30 European countries. [WWD] (Subscription required.)
The Getty Center was bathed in light, above, as it feted the immense Pacific Standard Time art extravaganza Sunday night, hosting more than 1,000 partygoers, with invites including artists (such as Judy Chicago, John Baldessari, Ed Ruscha, Robert Irwin), actors (Cheech Marin, Lisa Edelstein, Angela Lansbury), politicians (Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa) and movers and shakers in the arts community (Hammer Museum director Ann Philbin, LACMA chief executive Michael Govan, MOCA director Jeffrey Deitch, Getty Trust chief executive James Cuno). Ellen Olivier of SocietyNewsLA shot this picture of the Getty serving as the backdrop for a light show, taking viewers through the period covered by Pacific Standard Time, 1945 to 1980. PST, as it is also known, encompasses exhibitions taking place at more than 60 cultural institutions and 70 art galleries from Santa Barbara to San Diego. [SocietyNews LA]

[Updated at 10:50 a.m. Oct. 9 to correct spelling of Lansbury.]

RELATED:

Paris Fashion Week highlights

Chanel's Spring 2012 ocean of delights

Countdown to Pacific Standard Time ends with a massive music video

-- Susan Denley

Upper photo: Sarah Burton's collection for Alexander McQueen was all about femininity. Jacques Brinon / Associated Press Photo

Middle photo: Models Joan Smalls, left, and Kate Moss show sugary confections at the Louis Vuitton spring-summer 2011 show. Credit: Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images

Lower photo: The Getty Center, bathed in a light show Sunday night. Credit: Ellen Olivier / SocietyNewsLA

Fashion: Duchess Kate hits Topshop. Paris Fashion Week begins.

It is still refreshing when Kate the duchess of Cambridge -- and probable future queen of England -- is spotted shopping in a regular store where regular people go. Like her local Topshop. There she was Monday evening, reportedly buying a teal polka dot skirt, blue boucle jacket and gold-leaf earrings, all for about $170. [People]

Meanwhile, palace officials deny the rumors that Kate is to appear on the cover of U.S. Vogue, shot by famed fashion photographer Mario Testino. [Los Angeles Times]  

 
Paris Fashion Week got off to a low-key start Tuesday, with spring-summer 2012 collections being shown by some relatively lesser-knowns, such as this year's winner of the prestigious ANDAM prize for emerging designers Anthony Vaccarello, above, as well as Commuun, Aganovich and Julien David. There seemed to be a heavy focus on black and white, asymmetrical cuts, sheer fabrics. And some florals. [The Cut]

While Louis Vuitton creative director Marc Jacobs has seemed to be the front-runner to replace John Galliano at Dior, British Vogue comes forth with this idea: LVMH, the luxury overlord that owns both labels (and a slew of others) may want Jacobs to stay put. And Alexander Wang is under consideration, sources say, though it seems rather unlikely. We'll see. [Vogue UK]  

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Christian Louboutin's red-soled, elegant, luxe shoes. To commemorate two decades, Loutoubin is coming out with a coffee-table tome reviewing the world of the shoes. The introduction was written by actor John Malkovich, and some of the photography is by director David Lynch. The volume is being published by Rizzoli in late October. [Telegraph] 

 -- Susan Denley

Photo: Anthony Vaccarello and models on stage at the end of his spring-summer 2012 show as Paris Fashion Week started Tuesday. Pascal Rossignol / Reuters

RELATED

Kate Middleton's London

John Galliano found guilty in anti-Semitism case 

Poll: Which living face of fashion belongs on a U.S. stamp?

On the way into the office this morning, I heard NPR mention that the U.S. Postal Service is waiving its requirement that someone be dead for five years before appearing on its postage stamps, and is asking the public for suggestions.

My brain was in overdrive the rest of the commute. Surely there's some living, breathing person from the world of fashion and style who deserves to be so honored, right? Even if you disagree on that point, there's got to be someone who'd at least spur the sales of stamps (which, with the money problems the U.S. Postal Service is having, is more to the point.)

By the time I made it to my desk, I had the following short list:

Ralph Lauren (really, who epitomizes the American dream better?)

Marc Jacobs (once delivered late, your mail now arrives precisely on time)

Diane von Furstenberg (this stamp would be designed to wrap around the letter)

Vera Wang (probably a go-to for mailing out those wedding invitations)

Tom Ford (the stamp could have its own five-o'clock shadow)

Although I briefly considered tattoo artist/clothing line inspiration Don Ed Hardy, I left him off the list since the stamps might end up leaving a bad taste in your mouth. Who deserves your stamp of style approval? Vote on one of the five or post your own choice in the comments section.

RELATED:

New York Fashion Week: Marc Jacobs

New York Fashion Week: Ralph Lauren

New York Fashion Week: Diane von Furstenberg

-- Adam Tschorn

Photos: From left, American fashion designers Ralph Lauren (Credit: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images), Diane von Furstenberg (Credit: Karl Walter/Getty Images for DVF) and Tom Ford (Credit: Mikhail Metzel/AP Photo)

New York Fashion Week: Marc Jacobs

Marc Jacobs has an extraordinary knack for staging runway shows that reflect the cultural zeitgeist. And this season what he showed us was desperation.

When the curtain lifted on his spring collection, models were lined up on a bare stage and draped over chairs. It was a scene that made me think of "A Chorus Line."

The 1975 musical about a group of dancers auditioning for the chorus of a Broadway show is also a kind of metaphor for anyone who has ever been desperate for work. That would be roughly 14 million people in the U.S. right now. Unemployment is also at record highs in Europe.

How did this story play out on the runway? In the clothes, which seemed to be inspired by the dream of being a performer, from drop-waist, 1920s-inspired skirts with film strip fringe, to tinsel organza dresses, to sequin trim cashmere sweat shirts.

Silvery nylon gingham dresses brought to mind pie-eyed wannabes fresh off the bus from Kansas, as did utilitarian-looking chambray suits and clear plastic cowboy boots.

When it came to materials, Jacobs picked up where he left off last season, playing with the notion of real versus fake, luxe versus cheap, using faux crocodile, plastic studs, cellophane and silicone. But unlike the posh and polished fall collection, these clothes looked bedraggled.

The whole mise-en-scene as I imagined it could have a whole other meaning in light of recent news that Jacobs is considering leaving his role at Louis Vuitton to take the top job at Christian Dior, vacated by the disgraced John Galliano.

Jacobs may be the only guy on the planet right now with too many prospects.

RELATED:

New York Fashion Week: Ralph Lauren

New York Fashion Week: Rodarte

New York Fashion Week: Gap

-- Booth Moore in New York

Photos: Looks from the Marc Jacobs spring 2012 runway collection shown during New York Fashion Week. Credit: Mary Altaffer / Associated Press; Peter Michael Dills / Getty Images

Fashion News: Alex Wang the frat boy, celebs abound in New York

New York Fashion week is in full force and Booth Moore is reporting on all the most drool-worthy designer shows. Case in point: Alexander Wang sent out a sporty spring/summer 2012 collection that referenced BMX and NASCAR. Models wore graphics print, body con ensembles, some even carrying motorcycle helmets done in a floral motif [Los Angeles Times] 

Alexander Wang continued his sporty theme with one of his famous after parties, turning Pier 40 in New York into a raucous frat party. The event attracted Tyler the Creator (who performed) and Bryan Greenberg, who plays a designer in the HBO show "How to Make it in America." Guests enjoyed table tennis, Astroturf and Budweiser. Oh, and the party was sponsored by PlayStation, natch [WWD]

Rumors are swirling about who will replace John Galliano as artistic director at Dior. The latest front-runner seems to be Marc Jacobs, who is reportedly asking for about $10 million to make the big move to the French house [Fashionista]   

Heidi Klum and Christian Sirano reunite, Swizz Beats and Alicia Keyes step out and the male hunks from Gossip Girl, Twilight and the New York Jets make an appearance at Tommy Hilfiger. There doesn't seem to be any slowing of the celebrity quotient at New York Fashion Week [People Style Watch]

They may give off an air of mystery for photographers, but Anna Dello Russo, editor-at-large at Vogue Japan, and Carine Roitfeld cut a rug and grabbed the mic, singing karaoke at a party to celebrate Barneys New York's fall campaign collab with Roitfeld [Stylelist]

RELATED:

New York Fashion Week: Alexander Wang

New York Fashion Week: Gregory Parkinson

New York Fashion Week: Prabal Gurung

-- Melissa Magsaysay

Photos, from top: A piece from the Alexander Wang spring 2012 collection; Christian Siriano and Heidi Klum backstage at Siriano's spring show; Anna Dello Russo and Carine Roitfeld sing onstage at the Barneys New York party. Credits: Mary Altaffer / Associated Press; Michael Loccisano / Getty Images; Andrew H. Walker / Getty Images